Robert Griffin III Names His Top 5 Heisman Frontrunners After Week 9

The Heisman Trophy race shifted after Week 9, with standout college football performances and a major upset changing the conversation around college football’s top individual award. Former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III shared his five leading candidates, placing Miami quarterback Darian Mensah at the top of the list.

Griffin’s ranking reflects a field featuring players from several positions and programs, including two Miami standouts. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss also earned spots, while North Texas running back Jaheim White rounded out the group.

Mensah’s position comes amid a strong season for Miami, which remains undefeated heading into a pivotal Week 10 matchup against Notre Dame. His rise has coincided with Smith’s recent slide in the Heisman conversation after Ohio State’s 30-18 loss to USC, a result that left the Buckeyes with little margin for error in their College Football Playoff pursuit.

Smith had been viewed as a leading contender for much of the season, but his production against USC was limited to 83 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Buckeyes also dealt with quarterback Julian Sayin being sidelined, a factor that affected the offense and added uncertainty to Smith’s award outlook. Even with the setback, Smith remains among the prominent names in the race.

Former NFL Star Robert Griffin III Names His To 5 Heisman Frontrunners After College Football Week 9

Griffin revealed his top five players in the running for the top prize in college football. This can be seen in a post he made on X.

Top 5 Heisman Front Runners after Week 9
1. Darian Mensah QB Miami
2. Jeremiah Smith WR Ohio State
3. Trinidad Chambliss QB Ole Miss
4. Malachi Toney WR Miami
5. Jaheim White RB North Texas

Chambliss, meanwhile, gives the list another quarterback with a chance to strengthen his candidacy as the schedule advances. Ole Miss faces a challenging test against Georgia in Week 10, creating an opportunity for the Rebels signal-caller to make a statement. Miami receiver Malachi Toney adds another pass catcher to the group, underscoring the range of positions represented in Griffin’s selections.

White’s inclusion brings North Texas into the national award discussion and separates Griffin’s list from many current rankings and prediction-market outlooks, which have generally focused on Mensah, Smith and Toney near the top. The remaining weeks will offer each contender more chances to build a case through individual production and team success. Griffin’s five selections set out a varied Heisman picture after Week 9, with the race continuing to evolve as conference and playoff stakes rise, as the season’s final stretch approaches.